Written by: Aidan
We all use the art of manipulation everyday, whether it be small to make them swap seats at a movie theatre, or large enough to change their world views and opinions. This is clearly shown in Saturday by Ian McEwan where Henry Perowne convinces Baxter to leave him alone. Henry gets inside Baxter's head thinking like a man who has nothing to lose so he puts everything on the line to be someone important. But more than that Baxter just wishes for a cure to his endless torment that is ever growing worse and worse. Henry forces Baxter to let down his guard by shaming him with his condition that he has been struggling to overcome.
Henry held the key to Baxter's actions by revealing what Baxter wished nobody would ever know. Through his manipulation of Baxter's shame Henry is able to escape mostly unharmed, but through this he psychologically maimed Baxter. Baxter lays in wait for a short while brooding over the pain dealt to him by Henry. Because Henry was smarter than Baxter, Baxter had to outclass him in a different area, with a show of force. Later Baxter returned again, and again Henry manipulated Baxter's emotions concerning his genetic disorder.
Henry Promises to Baxter that he has searched for and found a new experimental cure for Huntingtons disease. Baxter thinks that Henry holds in his hands what he most dearly desires. This time Henry manipulated him not by shame but by desire. Knowing Baxter's mindset and how he would give anything for the cure, Henry seduced him into doing exactly what he wanted to ring his family out of harms way.
Henry held the key to Baxter's actions by revealing what Baxter wished nobody would ever know. Through his manipulation of Baxter's shame Henry is able to escape mostly unharmed, but through this he psychologically maimed Baxter. Baxter lays in wait for a short while brooding over the pain dealt to him by Henry. Because Henry was smarter than Baxter, Baxter had to outclass him in a different area, with a show of force. Later Baxter returned again, and again Henry manipulated Baxter's emotions concerning his genetic disorder.
Henry Promises to Baxter that he has searched for and found a new experimental cure for Huntingtons disease. Baxter thinks that Henry holds in his hands what he most dearly desires. This time Henry manipulated him not by shame but by desire. Knowing Baxter's mindset and how he would give anything for the cure, Henry seduced him into doing exactly what he wanted to ring his family out of harms way.
Great analysis of Saturday, but you can you make more connections to our own daily manipulations (the title of your post)?
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